Carragher still focused on playing despite losing starting role

Veteran Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is refusing to think about life after playing despite having found first-team opportunities limited in recent months.

The centre-back was given a rare Barclays Premier League start - his first since October 22 - in Sunday's goalless draw at home to Stoke.

He lost his place in the side because of injury, and prior to Saturday he had not started in 11 league matches.

Rare start: Carragher played against Stoke on Saturday

Carragher, who has just over a year remaining on his contract, is 34 in a fortnight's time and manager Kenny Dalglish has already suggested there is an ambassadorial role - similar to the one offered to captain Steven Gerrard when he signed a contract extension on Thursday - waiting for him.

But even though Carragher has had to watch Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger excel as Liverpool's first-choice central defensive partnership, he has not spent the time on the bench considering his future.

'If the manager has mentioned it (an ambassador role) I'm sure we will discuss it in the future,' said the Bootle-born defender, who has been at the club since he was at primary school, making his debut more than 15 years ago.

Carrying on: The veteran has no plans to retire

'But that's not something I want to talk about at the minute.

'I still want to concentrate on playing. I want to get as much out of my playing career as I possibly can.

'We will speak about something in the future.

'I'm the same as Steven - we love playing for the club and we just want to help in any way that we can.'